Bobby Ross Avila featuring Jasiri-X – “No Apology”
A push to stop the violence against Black and Brown people...
The Babies – Jasiri X
Introductory comments by Jasiri X, via The Perception Institute...
Samuel DuBose was on his way home to watch a movie with his 9-year-old son, Samuel Jr. According to Samuel Jr., “He was coming home that night and we had a projector so we were going to watch a movie on it but we didn’t get to do that … because he died.” University of Cincinnati Officer Ray Tensing shot Samuel in his head after pulling him over for a missing license plate. And while Officer Tensing gets to go home to his family after posting bond, Samuel Jr. and his 12 brothers and sisters will never see their father again.
“I can’t get him back,” Samuel Jr. told WLWT-TV, “he’s gone, he’s watching me right now, I can’t see him or talk to him or nothing.”
In April of this year the New York Times published an article called “1.5 Million Missing Black Men“:
In New York, almost 120,000 black men between the ages of 25 and 54 are missing from everyday life. In Chicago, 45,000 are, and more than 30,000 are missing in Philadelphia. Across the South — from North Charleston, S.C., through Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi and up into Ferguson, Mo. — hundreds of thousands more are missing.
They are missing, largely because of early deaths or because they are behind bars.
What effect do these missing black men have on the most vulnerable members of our community, our babies? What impact does it have on children to be denied invaluable time with their parents? What does it do to the psyche of black youth to see the people they love being mass incarcerated or murdered? How do they feel when they see their peers killed by the police and their families receive no justice? These are the questions I attempted to explore in my latest video, “The Babies.”
Produced by Idasa Tariq, “The Babies” contains a sample of legendary poet and musician Gil Scott-Heron singing, “but no one stops to think about the babies.” Sadly, I believe he’s 100 percent correct. We are often so contradictory in what we say to our children and the way we actually behave, it’s laughable. We suspend children for fighting, while we bomb our enemies. We punish them for lying and stealing, yet reward corporations and politicians for doing the very same thing. It’s my hope that this video will make us think deeply about the need for us to be involved in our communities, and what steps we have to take as a country, to truly make America a place of freedom and justice for all.
Do We Need to Start a Riot? – Jasiri X
Riots are not new in this country. Ask anyone in touch with the sentiments within the Black community, and they'll tell you that these forms of rebellion are never too far off, especially in communities that are on the receiving end of the most naked and brutal forms of state sanctioned and/or state-imposed institutional and structural violence.
As long as this nation's government institutions ignore the concerns and cries of the people, the anger and frustration is inevitably going to boil over. And despite what people say to the contrary, riots and mass protests do in fact get the attention of many who would otherwise ignore what's happening. Black rage can only be suppressed and repressed for so long.
Indeed, we've always had teachers and artists forecasting this reaction.
Here's a Jasiri X video from July 2012, speaking to this very issue, and within the context of violence directed against Black men and women.
Young, Gifted, and Black – 1Hood / Jasiri
Words have power. As does the music that carries them. Much appreciation for this collective, spreading positive messages and simultaneously challenging society's stereotypes about Black youth. They are not alone, as this has always been a connecting thread throughout the history of hip hop. Intergenerational wisdom and sharing. We are one.
"Young, Gifted, and Black" featuring Jasiri X, Tyhir Frost, Haze the Kid, and L U C, is the first release from 1Hood, a collective of Hip-Hop artists with a mission to improve self-image, dispel stereotypes, and provide a positive forum of self-expression in a field were African American youth are either underrepresented or misrepresented in media. "Young, Gifted, and Black" was directed by Paradise Gray and Haute Muslim and is featured on 1Hood's upcoming mixtape, "Welcome to Our World".
1Hood Media Academy helps youth critically analyze media messages, broaden media experience, and develop creative skills needed in creating their own media. Our mission is to improve self-image, dispel stereotypes, and provide a positive forum of self-expression. The course will include, though not limited to, Hip Hop lyricism and beat production, the art of blogging, photography, video production, and social media. To find out more information about 1Hood Media, please visit www.1hood.org.
Video posted on Oct 17, 2014
Dear Marissa – Jasiri X
21 Forever – Jasiri X: Pushing Hip-Hop (and those of us who love it) to Grow Up
Here's a video we can all appreciate as we continue to settle into 2014. In this latest video, Jasiri X highlights the tragic reality of too many hip-hop artists continuing to push the same garbage they've been pushing for so many years. Even as they've gotten older, and settled into relationships and families, the message in their music hasn't experienced any equivalent levels of maturity.
Evidenced by this video, however, among many others (some of which I've highlighted previously), we know there are plenty willing to push the envelope, and tell stories of growth, learning, and resistance against racism and other forms of oppression.
In Jasiri X's words...
But if we don’t actively work to change the culture of violence in our communities, and a music industry that celebrates, promotes, and profits off of Black death, then we can guarantee even more murders in 2014.
I made the song “21 Forever” because I was tired of hearing the same played out and destructive topics in almost every rap song that made it to the mainstream. Even worse, many of the artists performing these songs were in their mid 30s or older. These grown men are not just rappers, most are fathers and successful entrepreneurs. How come when don’t hear more songs about being in committed relationships, good parenting, and running a successful legitimate business? Why do we continue to hear the same hood stories of selling drugs and pimping women on repeat?
In 2014, with Hip-Hop turning 40, and many of it’s most successful representatives approaching middle age, will we finally grow up? Or will Hip-Hop be 21 forever?
Indeed, these words apply to those of us who love hip-hop as well.
Newest Video by Jasiri X... Published on Dec 31, 2013
Directed by Ali Baba Rosenthal III and Xavier Ruffin, "21 Forever" is produced by Religion and appears on Jasiri X's new album "Ascension" https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/asc...
Background
- About Oronde Miller
- Book Table of Contents
- Oronde’s Book: Facing The Rising Sun
- a black love music celebration
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- Happy Kwanzaa – Umoja – Unity December 26, 2018
- THE JOURNEY: “Between the World and Ta-Nehisi Coates” March 17, 2016
- Oprah and Detroit’s Own Shaka Senghor — Full Episode on Supersoul Sunday March 13, 2016
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Civil Rights and Apartheid South Africa – December 7, 1964 in London February 24, 2016
- The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution — TV Premier Tonight at 9 p.m. EST on PBS February 16, 2016
- Black Love, 2016 February 14, 2016
- Notes and Reflections on Mother Earth: Thich Nhat Hanh – Ancient Wisdom Lives January 8, 2016
- Turns Out Monkey Bars And Kickball Might Be Good For The Brain: Old Knowledge Always Returns January 7, 2016
- Professor John Henrik Clarke: A Life in Search of Africa, and Her People Throughout the World January 1, 2016
- Kwanzaa 2015 / IMANI – Faith January 1, 2016
- Kwanzaa 2015 / KUUMBA – Creativity December 31, 2015
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- Kwanzaa 2015 / UJAMAA – Cooperative Economics December 29, 2015
- Kwanzaa 2015 / UJIMA – Collective Work & Responsibility December 28, 2015
- Exemplar of Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): Professor John Henrik Clarke – A Great and Mighty Walk December 27, 2015
- Kwanzaa 2015 / KUJICHAGULIA – Self-Determination December 27, 2015
- Kwanzaa 2015 / UMOJA – Unity December 26, 2015
- Kwanzaa: Understanding the History and Context of a Community Celebration December 26, 2015
- Reflections on Malcolm X December 22, 2015
- Timely Speaking — James Baldwin, 1968: “I can conclude what white people think and feel from the state of their institutions…” December 14, 2015
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